Electric heater.



S. G. CRANE.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

S. G. CRANE.

ELECTRIC HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- I2. I914- v Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

, 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WTII'NIEZEZT 7 5CINV2TOR.

S. G. CRANE.

ELECTRIC HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 12. 1914.

1, 178,057. Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3 S. G. CRANE.

ELECTRIC HEATER.

APPLICATION men SEPT- 12. m4.

Patented Am, :4, 19,15

4 suEEfTis-sHEsT 4.

specification.

- matic controlling devices which cause the SAMUEL G. CRANE, OF TULEDD, OHIO.

ELECTRIC HEATER.

Application filed September 12, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL G. CRANE, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Electric Heater; and I do hereby declare the following to be a fulhclear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make ai'ulfuse the same, ref erence being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis My invention relates to liquid heaters.

It particularly relates to automatically controlled electric heaters.

The object of the invention is to provide an elficient and economic means for heating a liquid, such as water, as fast as it is drawn from the supply.

It also has for its object to provide autoheater to produce the temperature desired 'bined electric and fluid controller.

notwithstanding the variable temperature at which the water, or other fluid is supplied to the heater.

v. The invention may be containedin many forms of constructions usable for different purposes, all of which come within the purview of my claims hereinafter appended. To show the practicability of my invention, 1 have selected one of SHCllCOHStlHCillOIlS as an example and shall describe it hereinafter. The construction selected illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a sectionaloview of the fluid heater showing its connection with a com- Fig. 2 is "a sectional view of a distributer used for regulating the fluid supply andfor distributing the water to the heaters. Figs. 3 and i are respectively top and sectional views of the combined electric and fluid controller. Fig. 5 is a top view of tlfiz electric heater. Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are respeetively,to1i side and sectional views of the modified form of a combined fluid and electric controller.

Referring to the diagrammatic Figs. 1 and 2, 1 is the heater, is the faucet and switch, 3 is the main supply pipe, 4i is the pipe for feeding water to the heater 1 and 5 is the pipe which conducts the heated water from the heater 1 to the electric fluid controller. l

The water flows to the faucet through the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

Serial No. 861,406.-

main supply pipe 3 and'then passes through the faucet and then to the heater through faucet. The faucet is thus located intermediate the main and the heater and controls the supply of the fluid from the main to the heater. The water may thus be out off in advance of the heater so that when the desired quantity of water has been heated, the supply of the water to the heater may be cut off and all of the water that may remain in the heater and the pipe 5 is drawn from the heater. \Vhen it is desired to heat more water, there "will be practically no water left in the heater-and the connecting pipe to be drawn off before receiving the hot water. As soon as the water begins to flow it will have the required temperature.

The combined faucet and switch 2 is provided with a cock 10 having a plug 11 located in a cylindrical cell 12 formed co axially in the casing The plug 11 is provided with a Y-passageway 13 which leads diametrically through the.plug 11 and alsoradially from the center of the plug at an angle to the diametric passage. The Y- passageway is adapted to register with the openings l-il. 15 and 17. formed in the wall 1 of the cell 12. The openings or passageways l4 and 15 extend through the bosses 1-8 and 19 which communlcate with the pipes 3 and 1. When the diametrical portion of the passageway 13 registers with the openings 14 and 15, the water flows directly from the feed pipe 3 through the faucet 2 and pipe 4 to the heater 1. It returns to the faucet through the pipe which communicates with the chamber 22 formed in the interior of the casing 34 around the cell 12. The water passes through the chamber 22 and out through the faucet mouth 23. \Vhen the Y-passageway 13 in the plug 11 registers with thehole 17 which is formed in the wall of the cell 12 and withjthe opening 1 1, the water flows directly from the feed pipe 3 into the chamber 22 and out through the mouth 23, while the opening 15 which communicates with the pipe 4 is cut off by the rotation of the plug .11. The cock stem 10 may be threaded at its lower end 30 and provided with a locking washer or strip 31 to prevent unscrewing of the cook 10.

In my invention, a means is provided for 'not only controlling the fluid flow to and from the heater, but also, fortcontrollipg the electric current supply. The combined faucet and switch is divided into two chambers one through which the fluid may pass and the other which contains switch contacts and has a means for permitting the flow of an electric current through the heater.

in the form the invention shown in Figs. 3 and l, a pair of contact arms 3:2 are secured to the shank of the cock 10. They ma) be disposed on opposite sides of the shank if desired. The arm 32 is movable with the shank of the cock 1.0 and operates when in a certain position to bridge the arcuate fixed contacts 33. which form the terminals of the circuit of the heater and the source of current supply. hen the cock is so disposed as to place the arms across the contacts 553 the plug 11 is so disposed as to place the duct 13 in register with theholes in the cell wall 12 communicating with the pipes 33 and 4. The upper end of the casing closed by a threaded cap A suitable packing" material 37 is located hetwcen the cap 36 and the wall of the casing :uto prevent leakage of the water or other fluid. The cap 36 is provided with a side wall 38 forming a cavity 3!) which is closed by a cover 40 which may be secured by means of threads or may be tightly titted over or secured in any other suitableway lo the cap 36. The switch contacts are located in the cavity 39. It duct insulator 41 e tcnds through the side wall 38 oi the cap 36. The wires -'l2l3. extend through the insulator 41. The interior surface of the cavity 39 is covered by a suitable insulating material such as fiber 44, and thc arms 3'2 are clamped about an insulating; collar 45 located upon the stem cl the cock 10. The faucet is thus made practically lealoprool and also the parts of the switch are tl'loroughly insulated. Whcn the cook 10 is turned so as to close the switch arm 1-32 and allow the water to pass through the pipes 3, 4 and 5, the electric current passes through the wires 42 and l?) and through the. heat elements of the electric heater.

The hiater 1 is provided with a double heat insulating; inclosinp; wall consisting of the two coaxial cylindrical shells and 51. An asbestcs or mineral wool packing is located between the two walls of the heater. The upper end of the heater 1 is closed by the cover 53 which is threaded on and closes the upper end of the heater 1. A suitable packing ring 54 may be located between the upper edge of the halter and the periphery of the cover 53. The bottom of the heater is closed by the plate 55 which is locked to P i all 50 by means of the screws so. A suaable packing ring 57 may be located between the lower edge of the cylimler 50 and the periphery ot' the plate 55. The. inner wall 5 1 of the heater is provided with shoulders (30 against which the plate disks (31, located in the upper and lower ends of the heater, are drawn by means or" the tie rods 6:2.

The plates 1 divide the interior of the heater into three chambers, the upper chamber (38, the lower chamber, 75, and the intermediate chamber 83. l he upper chamber receives the liquid to be heated and contains a regulator or distributor for controlling the liquid operated upon by the heater. The intermediate chamber contains the automatic thermally controlled liquid conveyors and heaters which heat the liquid and cause it to increase in rate of How as it is heated. The chamber being heated by the electric heaters, operates to a more or less extent to remove the chill from the water in the upper chamber (38. 'l he lowermost chamber contains a heating element, such as a hot plate, which gives the final heat to the water. It superheats the water received from the electric heaters located in the chamber 83. It may also have connected therewith means for raising the temperature of the water to near boiling point. The particular means shown, consists of a siphon which operates to delay the initial outflow o'li' the water.

The regulator or distributor located in the uppermost chamber regulates the ilow oi the water through the heater accorling to the temperature of the water received and the temperature desired and also to the capacity of the heater. It distributes the water over the upper plate (51 and the ends of the conveyer tubes (53 and prevents any local currents or uneven pressures through the automatic electric therino-controlled fluid heaters.

The regulator or distributor consists of two plates 70 and 71. disposed in parallel relation to each other. The plate 70 is provided with an opening T2 which extends tln-ough a boss located centrally. The plate 70 is connected with the pipe l through which the water will pass, when the faucet is open, into and between the plates 70 and 71. The water will thereby be directed radially and over the periphery of the plate 71 into the chamber 68 and onto the plate ($1, that is to the outer edge of the plate 61, whence it will flow centrally from the larger area to the smaller as it is taken up by the conveyer tubes. The plate 70 may be adjusted relative to the plate 71 by the rotation of the plate 70, the threads causing a correspond ing change in the distance between the plates 'l heg'reater the distance between i the plates-the greater will be the llow oi the water into the heater as this will reduce the back pressure. The adjustment of the regulator and distributer contained in the chain her (38 may be more or less permanent in character and may depend upon the average temperature of the water received during any particular season of the year or other period of time. i

The combined heaters and means for aut operate to seal the space between the upper and lower plates 61 and prevent fluid from penetrating between the said plates except, as it passes through the bore of the tubes 63. The upper ends of the tubes 63 communicate with the chamber formed between the top 53 of the heater 51 and the upper plate 61 by means of comically formed openings 69 which register with the bore through the tubes.- The tube having a small bore is placed centrally with respect to the resistance wire 84. The wire S l is suitably in sulated from the tube, if the tube is made of metal. The tube maybe covered with a suitable insulating material. It may be covered with a vitreous material in which the coils may be totally or partially embedded. The bore o'l each tube is preferably capillaric.

4 The total effective interior sectional area of the capillary tubes approximates the size of the pipes 4 and The total area of the tubes is such that the flow therethrough and the inlet pipe is thereby greatly retarded.

As the multiplicity of tubes become heated and expanded and the water becomes heated, increasing the mobility of the water thereby, the rate of flow of the water increases. The rate of flow will therefore depend upon the heat produced and transmitted from the coils to the water so that if the water is re ceived cold it will flow comparativel slow through the capillary tubes until the water I and the air contained in the water and tubes become heated. The construction is such that-if cold water is supplied to the upper chamber and no heat is applied thereto it will take a considerable time for its passage through the capillarytubes and that it the capillary tubes and the water contained therein are heated to a slight extent the rate of flow will be slightly accelerated and it heated to a higher temperature the rate of How will be correspondingly faster so that the rate of flow of the water through the capillarv tubes is substantially in proportion to its increase in temperature. a

The chamber is provided-with an electric heat coil 76 which isspirally woundand disposed in a closed cell 77'. The cell 77 is located in the lower and of the chamber 75 and as the water passes through the tubes it passes on to the surface .76 of the hot plate or cell 77. Thewires connect ng the heat coil contained in the cellfl'T extend through atube 7 9 which passes through the plate 61 and is locked in position by the nut 80 which clamps the plate 61 and a pair of insulating and sealing washers around the tube 7 9 on which it is threaded.

The fluid thermostatic regulator consists of the siphon 81 which extends up through the lower plate 61 into the chamber 83 and down through the chamber 75 and communicates with the pipe 5. The water when it is sufficiently heated, will be forced up through one leg of the U-tube 81 and then down through the otherleg of the siphon to the pipe It will continue to siphon the water from the heater as fast as it is supplied, to the chamber 75. After the water begins to fiow through the siphon the rate offlow of the water through it will depend upon the rate of flow or the water through the tubes 63. The weight of the water in the delivery leg of the siphonalso tends to increase the rate or How of the water through the heating tubes 63. The siphon operating to delay the delivery of water at first gives time for theheat coils 76 to raise the temperature of the water.

The electric circuit extends from any suitablesourceo't supply to the combined faucet and switch. In the heater, the current passes through the heat coils 81 and T6 in series and thence it passes to the source of supply. The connections are made through the wires 4.2 and 43. v

The regulator shown in Fig. 6 is provided with a pointer which may be used to indicate approximately the temperature at which the water will be heated or the temperature at which the adjustment must be made in order that the water may be heated by the heater to a fixed degree up to about 212, according to the markings placed upon the indicator. If graduations of final temperature water are made and if it is desired to obtain a uniform temperature and the water supplied to the heater varies in temperature,

, the adjustment may be varied accordingly.

The indicator has a pointer 101 which may be moved over the top 53 of the heater by means of a gnarled headed pin 102 to which the pointer is secured. A scale may be formed on the plate 53 or may be at- .tached or connected therewith in any suitable way. Thepin 102 is properly hushed and sealedtoprevent leakage of the'heater around the pin. Asmall gear wheel 103 is secured to the lower end of the pin 102. It operates upon the gear teeth 104 formed on the boss or hub 72 of the plate 70. The

(fol-1110MB; with the heater 1;

respect to the pitch otthe thread formed in the hub 72 of the plate 70, so as to produce the desired movements of the plate with respect to the plate 71 and 'thereby bring about the desired adjustment accord ing to the angular moyements of the pointer 101.

The distributer causes the water to be retarded as it enters the heater so as to give' the heater opportunity to heat the water before it passes from the heater and to adjust the pressure of the water in the upper chamber of the heater that may be transmitted from the connecting pipe '-'l.' The automatic h at regulators which heatand' convey the llnid from the upper to the lower chambers of the heater will thus be more or less controlled by the regulator in the upper chamber of. the heater inasmuch as the regulator in the upper chamber. regulates to a certain extent the pressure of the fluid in the heater.

In the form oi the combined faucet and switch shown in Figs. 8, t) and 10, the plug 110 is provided with ..a peripheral groove 111 which extends circlunlerentially around a greater portion otthe plug; The casing 112 is provided with inlet openings 113 and 11a through which the faucet is connected to the feed pipe 31 and to the pipe 5 which The ports 113 and 11s are controlled by the plug 110 having the groove 111. \Vhenthe plug 110 is turned by the "ocl .1() in one direction the end ol the peripheral groove 111 registers with the port 11-'l. which allows cold water to pass through the peripheral groove 111 out through the mouth 23. It the cock 10 is turned in the opposite direction the other end ol the groove lldregistcrs with the inlet port 113 which communicates with the heater pipe 5. The heatcdwvatcr from the heater will then pass through the groove 111 and out through the mouth 23 of the l'auce. I'l it is desired to mix the waters coming from the heater and from the feed pipe 21 to cool the water from the heater to any desired temperature, the faucet may be turned so as to cause the end portion of the groove 111 to cover or register with both ports 11 1 and 111. The end of the groove may be so located as to vary the amount'ot' oool water which enters the groove by varying. the location of the end of the groove 1.11 with respect to the opening or port 1'1-1. On the other hand it it is desired to warm the water passing from the feed pipe 3 it may be done by turning the cock 1( and the plug 110 around so that the other end of the groove 111 will cover to a more or less extent the inlet port 113. This will operate to warm the water from the feed pipe 3 as may be desired by allowing more or less of the. water from the. inlet port 113 from the heater to'ilow into the groove 111. The arm 32 and the contacts 31 make com'iection with the source of current and the heater through the wires 42 and -l-. The contacts 33 are of such lengtlrand are so located I claim 'asnew, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,-

1. In combination with a source tit supply of a liquid under pressure, an electric heater having a liquid supply controller locatedintermeiliate the electric heater and the source of supply, a plurality of electric heat elements forming liquid conveyers, a distributer for distributing the liquid over the ends of the conveyors and means 1"(nytl1e1'11'1ally controlling the flow of the liquid from the electric heater.

2. In anelectric heater for heating a flow ing liquid, having a plurality of capillary tubes and means for heating the capillary tubes; the said capillary tubes adapted to permit the flow of the liquid in proportion.

to the l1@lll]')l'2ltl11'0 to which it is heated by the heating means,

3. In a liquidheater, means for supplying liquid at a low temperature thereto. an outlet for the liquid therefrom. means 'l'or heats ing the liquid and capillary conducting means arranged in the path of flow of the liquid for permitting an increase of the flow oi" the liquid in pr p ortion to its increase in temperature.

4. In a liquid heater. an inlet and outlet a heating chamber arranged between the inlet and outlet. and capillary means for conducting the liquid through the heating Chamber whereby the passage of the liquid at low temperature is retarded and the rate o-t' flow of heated liquid accelerated in proportion to its increase in temperature.

5. In a liquid heater. means for supplyin'g relatively cool liquid under pressure. an outlet capillary means arranged between the supply means and outlet for retarding the flow of relatively cool liquid and a heating means applied to the retarding means where"- by the liquid is heated and its rate of flow to the outlet increased proportionately to it; increase in temperature.

(3. In a liquid heater, an inlet, an outlet, heating means arranged between the inlet and outlet and capillary means for conducting the liquid through the heatingmeans \\hereby the rate of flow of liquid to. the" outlet varies proportionately to the variations in the temperature of the liquid.

T. In a liquid heater, an inlet chamber for relatively cool liquid, a delivery chamber, a plurality of capillary tubes, connecting the inlet and outlet chamberswhereby the flow of relatively cool liquid to the outlet chamber is retarded and means for supplying'heat to the liquid in the capillary tubes whereby the temperature and rate of llovv of the liquid are correspondingly increased.

8. In a liquid heater, an inlet chamber, a delivery chamber. a central heating chamber, a'series of capillary tubes arranged in the central heating chamber and connecting the inlet chamber with the delivery chamber, said capillary tubes allowing the passage of the liquid therethrough in proportion to the temperature of the liquid and means for zmplying'heat to the liquid during its passage through the capillary tubes.

9. In a device for heating flowing liquid,

a heating chamber, an inlet pipe for conducting liquid to the heating chamber, a

series o'lf small bore tubes arranged Within ing chamber, means arranged Within the heating chamber for partially stopping the flow of liquid and comprising a plurality of capillary tubes, electrical means for heating the liquid while so retarded including heat elements surrounding the tubes and an outlet for the heated liquid.

11. In a liquid heater, means for admitting liquid under pressure, an outlet for the liquid, a series of capillary tubes arranged in the path of flow of the liquid and electrical means for applying heat to the liquid \vhile flowing through said tubes.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

SAMUEL G. CRANE.

Witnesses:

F. E. AUL, R. G. ALLEN. 

